Sheriff’s Office Warns of Rise in Abuse of Prescription Drugs by Teens

Press Release by Sgt. Bryan Francis, Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office

On Thursday, November 20, 2008 the Kaufman County Narcotics Division arrested 50 year old Annie Cunningham and her son 29 year old Glenn Gardner for Delivery of a Controlled Substance in a Drug Free Zone.  Cunningham and Gardner attempted to sell 200 pills of Xanax and 400 pills of Clonapin to an undercover police officer less then a half a mile from the Kaufman High school.  The two were arrested in the 2300 block of South Washington street in the city of Kaufman without incident.  Gardner remains in custody with $100,000 bond and Cunningham has been released after posting $100,000 bond.

The Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office has noticed a rise in youths abusing prescription drugs; this appears to be following the national trend.  Youths find that pills such as Xanax are cheaper and easier to gain access to then more typical street drugs.  Teens often go through their parent’s medicine cabinet to find left over medications.  Parents are advised to keep a close eye on prescription medications such as mood altering medications and painkillers.